GLJ Research analyst Gordon Johnson has criticized Tesla's humanoid robot Optimus, comparing it to 1980s Chuck E. Cheese animatronics and predicting no sales in 2026. The remarks follow allegations that a recent demonstration was teleoperated rather than autonomous. Johnson's comments highlight skepticism toward Elon Musk's ambitious timelines for the robot.
GLJ Research analyst Gordon Johnson expressed strong doubts about Tesla Inc.'s Optimus humanoid robot, describing it as '1980s Chuck E. Cheese–level' animatronics technology. In a post on X on Monday, Johnson reposted criticism from Dan O'Dowd, founder of The Dawn Project, who attended a Tesla event where Optimus was shown serving popcorn. O'Dowd alleged that the demonstration was staged, with Tesla employees confirming the robot was teleoperated instead of operating autonomously.
O'Dowd further noted that staff could not confirm the number of Optimus units built, despite Elon Musk's previous statement that Tesla would produce 10,000 robots by the end of the year. He suggested Tesla might need to hire many teleoperators if such demos continue. This comes amid separate footage from Tesla's Miami Autonomy Visualized event, where an Optimus robot was seen collapsing, sparking speculation of remote control. YouTuber JerryRigEverything mocked the incident on X, referencing Musk's idea of sending Optimus to space via SpaceX's Starship.
Musk has touted Optimus as the 'most sophisticated' humanoid robot, claiming it could represent 80% of Tesla's future value, address labor shortages, eradicate poverty, and even perform surgery. Tesla envisions pricing the robots at $20,000 to $30,000 at scale and has released videos showing Optimus running and making fluid, human-like movements. However, the company states Optimus is still in development, with mass production expected soon.
Johnson's prediction of zero commercial sales in 2026 underscores the gap between Musk's promises and current demonstrations, raising questions about the robot's readiness for real-world applications.
